House pulls out E15 in appropriations bill

WASHINGTON — U.S. House leadership omitted a piece of the appropriations package that would permanently allow year-round sale of E15, choosing to create a rural energy council to explore this legislation.

The appropriations bill instead included the creation of the E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council, appointed by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, “to develop legislative solutions to address the crisis facing our nation’s farmers and refiners.”

Under the bill, the council is required to examine not only E15 expansion, but also mandates it to “investigate topics including, but not limited to,” E15, U.S. refinery capacity, the Renewable Fuels Standard, EPA’s Renewable Identification Numbers, “access to markets and federal regulations that hinder American energy dominance.”

The council will develop bills and submit them to Congress no later than Feb. 15 with the House expected to consider such legislation no later than Feb. 25.

President Donald Trump noted his commitment to year-round E15 sales in a Jan. 27 speech in Clive, Iowa, and asked Congress to resolve differences and finalize an agreement.

“The people of Iowa know that I am trusting Speaker Mike Johnson, who’s great, and Leader John Thune, who’s great, that’s House and Senate, to find a deal that works for farmers, consumers and refiners, including small and mid-sized refiners,” Trump said. “They’re working on it. They’re very close to getting it done.”

Reaction

Corn growers and other ethanol supporters expressed their frustration and said the House “kicked the can down the road once again.”

“It is tough to understand why Congress can’t remove an artificial barrier to increased corn demand that costs taxpayers nothing, but would help family farmers and rural communities,” said Maroa farmer and Illinois Corn Growers Association President Mark Bunselmeyer.

“This decision should not be difficult; fix the policy that blocks ethanol access to the marketplace and gives farmers and rural communities a fighting chance. We have been advocating for year-round E15 since the U.S. EPA approved the fuel in 2011. Kicking the can down the road yet again and loading the decision with unnecessary bureaucracy is not what Illinois corn farmers need.”

“Corn growers are disgusted, disappointed and disillusioned that after spending years of calling for passage of E15, Congress has again punted, and it has done so in a spectacularly weak and offensive way. Bizarrely, members of Congress are now planning to establish a rural energy council to explore this legislation as if we are in the beginning stages of discussing E15,” said Jed Bower, Ohio farmer and National Corn Growers Association president.

“We already have a bill. We already have an agreement with the petroleum industry after months of negotiation. But instead of acting, Congress is now suggesting a process-ridden task force that kicks the can down the road once again. Congress is choosing to leave America’s 500,000 corn farmers behind in favor of a handful of refineries.”

The American Soybean Association released a statement warning of threats to the integrity of longstanding U.S. biofuel policies following the House of Representatives’ establishment of the E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council.

ASA noted the council was developed to identify solutions to policy disputes preventing the passage of the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025, legislation to provide for the sale of year-round E15 fuel blends.

However, the association said, the establishment resolution directs the council to review a broad range of policies, including critical biofuel programs that support domestic markets for U.S. soybeans.

“The American Soybean Association appreciates the continued work of the House of Representatives to champion domestic biofuel production, but the broad latitude provided to the E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council creates new threats to programs U.S. soybean farmers rely on to advance the production of soy-based fuels,” said Scott Metzger, ASA president and Ohio farmer.

“ASA supports the sale of year-round E15, but is concerned about the council’s review of longstanding bipartisan policies that promote the production and consumption of biodiesel, renewable diesel and other biofuels derived from soybeans.

“Congress and members of the council must guard against all efforts that seek to weaken the Renewable Fuel Standard and other policies U.S. soybean farmers rely on for domestic market demand.

“The open-ended directives of this council create a dangerous precedent that threatens the foundation of the U.S. biofuel industry. The council should not open 25 years of RFS program success during only a few weeks of review.”

“We expect Congress to adopt bipartisan legislation to finally allow retailers the option to offer E15 to their customers on a year-round basis before the summer driving season. Any new legislative package considered by Congress must expand, not limit, market access for ethanol,” said American Coalition for Ethanol CEO Brian Jennings.

“As rural America copes with some of the toughest economic conditions in a generation, Congress must meet the moment and finally make E15 year-round a reality. It is a commonsense solution that can immediately boost demand for corn, strengthen farm income and save motorists money at the pump.”